Julia Mancuso of the United States makes a turn during the first run of the Women's Giant Slalom at the Turin 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Sestriere Colle, Italy, Friday, Feb. 24, 2006. Take a look back at all of the cross-country excitement. Follow all the action of moguls. Learn all about skiing. (Photo: Thomas Kienzle/AP Wide World)

Friday, February 24—Julia Mancuso to the rescue! The 2006 Winter Olympics were a disappointment for U.S. Alpine skiers, both men and women. But Julia Mancuso of the U.S. helped ease the pain with a big win in the women's giant slalom.

It was the final Alpine event on the slopes of Sestriere, Italy.

Only two Americans took part. The other was Stacey Cook. Cook didn't get so far, but Mancuso did.

Here is how it turned out. Anna Ottosson of Sweden won the bronze medal. Tanja Poutiainen of Finland won the silver. The gold went to Mancuso. It was the first U.S. Olympic Alpine medal since Picabo Street won the super-G in Nagano in 1998.

"My first thought was, 'Oh, my gosh! This is unbelievable!"' Mancuso said, with her signature fake tiara on her head. She often skies with the tiara for good luck.

"It was perfect timing," said her coach Patrick Riml, who had given her the plastic crown as a good luck charm several years ago. "She skied beautifully."

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Austria's Michaela Dorfmeister poses with her two gold medals in Sestriere in Italy Austria's Michaela Dorfmeister poses for photographers in Sestriere with her two gold medals after winning the women's Alpine skiing super-G race at the Torino 2006 Winter Olympic Games in San Sicario, Italy February 20, 2006. Dorfmeister previously won gold in the women's downhill race. (Photo: Leonhard Foeger/Reuters)

Austria and Crotia are Super-G
U.S. women fail to perform in tough alpine ski event
By Molly Majewicz
Scholastic Kids Press Corps

Monday, February 20—It was another disappointing day for the U.S. alpine skiers. Lindsey Kildow, despite a terrible fall in the downhill training run, placed 7th in the Super-G finals. Surprisingly, it was the best finish for the American team.

Of the other U.S. skiers who competed in the Super-G, Julia Mancuso placed 11th, Kirsten Clark placed 14th, and Libby Ludlow placed 28th. Mancuso said she thought the new course was too easy because it had less turns than other Super-G runs and she was a more technical skier.

Michaela Dorfmeister of Austria won her 2nd gold medal in the Torino games. Janica Kostelic of Croatia won the silver medal. Kostelic had not planned to ski the Super-G because she was ill. But when the race was moved from Sunday to Monday because of a blizzard, Kostelic had time to recover and compete.

Alexandra Meissnitzer, also from Austria, won the bronze bringing Austria's medal total to nine, one short of their goal.

Super-G stands for Super Giant Slaloms. Slaloms have blue and red flags called gates scattered in pairs throughout the course. Skiers have to go around the gates as fast as they can.

Super Giant Slaloms are 'giant' because the trail is longer and more like downhill skiing than the Giant Slalom. Super Giant Slaloms are 'super' because there are more gates to go through than downhill racing.

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Croatia's Kostelic passes a gate during the women's super-G at the Winter Olympic Games at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in San Sicario, Italy, February 20, 2006. (Photo: Ruben Sprich/Reuters)

Injuries Plague U.S. Women
Croatia, Austria, Sweden win medals in women's combined alpine skiing
By Mariama Anderson-Dione
Scholastic Kids Press Corps

Saturday, February 18—Some 67 miles south of Torino, Italy, in San Sicrio Fraiteve, Janica Kostelic of Croatia became the first woman to win four gold medals in women's combined alpine skiing. She accomplished this feat even though she was so sick she thought she wouldn't be able to ski.

Marlies Schild of Austria won the silver. Anja Paerson from Sweden won the bronze.

In women's combined, the skiers complete one downhill run and two slalom runs. Women with the three fastest combined times win medals.

A downhill run is a steep descent. A slalom is a short race with sharp turns around flags. The downhill competition began on Friday but was postponed because of high winds. The competition quickly switched to the two slaloms. Downhill skiing was completed today.

U.S. athletes participating were Julia Mancuso, Resi Stiegler, Kaylin Richardson, and Lindsey Kildow, who came in 9th, 11th, 17th and 33rd , respectively.

Lindsey Kildow was the U.S. team's best chance for a medal but she hurt herself during a training run. She skied the slaloms on Friday and fell on the second run, injuring herself further. She did not compete in the downhill on Saturday.

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Austria's Michaela Dorfmeister on her way to win the gold medal in the women's downhill race at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games on February 15, 2006. (Photo: Ruben Sprich/Reuters)

Austrian Dream Come True
One of the world's most decorated Alpine skiers finally gets her gold
By Jennifer Shapp
Scholastic Kids Press Corps

Wednesday, February 15—It was a dream come true for Austrian Michaela Dorfmeister. The world champion downhill skier finally added an Olympic gold medal to her collection of world titles. Now, as the oldest woman to ever win an Olympic downhill medal, she plans to retire. Dorfmeister is 33.

"It's like a dream," Dorfmeister said. "I didn't sleep for two nights because I was under so much pressure. But this morning I felt very relaxed, and when I took the lift to the start, I said, 'Today, I'll do it.'"

Also winning medals in today's competition at San Sicario, near Torino, Italy, were Martina Schild of Switzerland, who took silver, and Anja Paerson, of Sweden, who won the bronze.

Four Americans participated in this event: Julia Mancuso, Lindsey Kildow, Stacey Cook, and Kirsten Clark. Although no American won a medal, Lindsey Kildow turned in an inspirational performance after having been hurt in an accident while training two days earlier. She came in eighth skiing at what she called 70 percent of her ability.

"I knew this course inside and out, so it's disappointing," she said.

Mancuso came in seventh. Nineteenth place belonged to Stacey Cook, and finally 21st place went to Kirsten Clark. In this event there were 40 athletes participating from 18 different countries.

Downhill Alpine skiing is the longest course in the skiing events, with the highest speeds. Each skier comes down the almost 2-mile-long slope once. The fastest one down wins. The course has many turns, is very icy, and has big jumps.

Women's Alpine skiing competition continues Friday, February 17 with the combined, an all-day event requiring a downhill run and two slaloms. Super-G is set for Sunday, February 19.

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Bode Miller of the United States at the 2006 Winter Games in Torino, Italy, on February 12, 2006. (Photo: Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters)

Bode Miller misses out in the Alpine Men's Downhill event.